Display sign for stacked merchandise



Feb. 28, 1950 s, JOHNSON 2,498,956

DISPLAY SIGN FOR STACKED MERCHANDISE Filed Jan. 27, 194? ATTORN gy.

Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES DISPLAY SIGN FOR STACKED MERCHANDISE Maurice D. S.- Johnson, North Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Staley Milling Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 27, 1947, Serial No. 724,523

This invention relates to a display sign adapted for operative association with merchandise for marking the same with respect to character, price, quality, etc., and at the same time afford a unique means for advertising such merchandise.

The primary aim of this invention is to provide a display sign that is inexpensive to manufacture; easy to place in operative use in association with the merchandise to be displayed; and which is virtually self-sustaining when in operative use if such disposition with respect to the merchandise is desired.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of a display sign, particularly for stacked merchandise, having a panel provided with indicia thereon indicating the type of goods on display as well as the price and other information and having associated therewith a fabric apron for disposition in covering relation with such merchandise, whereby to hold the sign in position.

Many minor objects, including the specific form and details of construction, will be made clear or become apparent during the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the display sign showing the same inoperative relationship with a number of stacked sacks of feed or the like.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the display sign per se disassociated from the merchandise, and

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof.

It is contemplated that the display sign about to be described be adaptable for use with numerous kinds of merchandise and, therefore, the sacks of feed designated by the numeral I and illustrated in Fig. 1 are for illustrative purposes only. It is common knowledge that such sacks of feed I!) are usually stacked in relative superimposed relationship in the feed store or warehouse and ordinarily segregated as to kind, size and/or price. It is, therefore, extremely advantageous to have a sign which clearly designates the contents of each row or stack of merchandise, whether for public information or for use by the warehousemen or other workmen. Such sign should be virtually self sustaining when placed on the merchandise, to the end that time is not lost by the necessity of pinning or otherwise clamping the same to the merchandise and, furthermore, so that the sign will not fall or otherwise become displaced when part of the merchanise is removed from its respective stack.

The display sign chosen for illustration comprises a panel I2 and an apron I2 is relatively stiff being formed from a heavy cardboard or other inexpensive material suitable for having indicia as at I6 printed thereon. While this panel I2 is shown as being substantially rec- 5 tangular it is understood that the same may have other polygonal shapes or be circular if desired, however, in the case of stacked feed, it has been found more practical to make panel I2 in the shape and size illustrated. The apron I4 is formed from fabric or other flexible material to the end that the same will conform to the contour of the stacked merchandise. Such shape conforming characteristic of the apron I4 is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the same shows the curved contour of the feed sacks II]. It has been found that burlap is a highly suitable material for forming this apron l4, inasmuch as the same has a relatively coarse nap, which makes the same cling to the merchandise when the panel I4 is disposed in the covering relationship therewith. The apron l4 extends laterally from the depending panel 12 and the proximal marginal edges 18 and 20 of apron I4 and panel l2 respectively are secured together by a line of stitching 22, extending 5 the entire longitudinal lengths of the panel I2 and the apron [4, to the end that the panel I2 will hang evenly. It is preferable that the length of apron I4 be substantially the same as the length of panel l2. Furthermore, the length and width of the apron I4 should be virtually the same as the width and length of one face of the sacks ID, to the end that the same is almost entirely covered when placed thereon.

It is clear from the foregoing that the inherent fuzzy nature of the fabric apron I4 and the fact that the same completely covers the sacks l0 and results in the display sign remaining in operative position, even though a number of sacks it are removed from the stack. In other words, this sign is particularly adapted to be sandwiched between superimposed sacks of feed I0 and, therefore, may be disposed at any height desired. While any mode of securement of apron M to the panel I2 may be used other than the stitching 22, this method is extremely inexpensive since feed store operators particularly are usually equipped with machines for closing the sacks ID or making the same. The material from which the display sign is made is easily procurable upon the open market and the entire assembly may be made quickly and at little cost and may be used throughout many successive operations without likelihood of damage beyond reuse.

While only one form of a display sign for M. This panel stacked merchandise has been illustrated and sign comprising a relatively stifi polygonal panel, 1

adapted to have advertising indicia placed on one face thereof; and an apron extending laterally from the opposite face of said panel, the proximalv marginal edges of the panel and the apron respectively being coextensive and stitched together, said apron covering substantially the entire surface of one face of one sack of the stacked merchandise when operatively associated 6 lationship thereof.

therewith and being formed from fabric whereby the same conforms to the contour of and clings to said one sack when disposed in covering re- MAURICE D. S. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the o file of this patent:

UMTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 882,452 Brown Mar. 17, 1908 1,3293937 Sw'eterlitsch Feb. 3, 1920 1,512,395 Bri'gel Oct. 21,1924 1 ,'Z64,003 Bush- June 17, 1930 1,867,152 Higgins July 12, 1932 2,094,210 Graben Sept. 28, 1937 

